Building strategic relationships
Tshwane is a vibrant modern city with enormous economic potential. Situated in the heart of Gauteng, surrounded by industrial growth points and within easy reach of the industries and the commercial hub of Johannesburg and the surrounding Witwatersrand, the city is ideally positioned as an investment location where opportunities for economic growth abound.
Furthermore, as South Africa's administrative capital, Tshwane is the seat of government with a large component of government departments housed here. Other significant economic sectors in Tshwane include financial and social services, manufacturing, trade, construction, electricity, transport and agriculture.
Tshwane is also a base of knowledge, boasting several top educational institutions, including three universities, three technikons and numerous other tertiary education facilities. In this regard there is great potential for research and development industries in the area. The city's high percentage of technically and professionally trained residents makes it a prime destination for complex industries such as high-tech and biotech industries and others that require well-trained, highly skilled employees.
Given these attributes, The Innovation Hub is partnering with Tshwane Metro in seeking ways to attract more investment to the city and position it as a smart place to be. To this end The Innovation Hub Management Team, led by CEO Dr Neville Comins, have recently presented the Hub to the Tshwane Mayoral Committee and Senior Executives.
Tshwane Digital Hub project, for instance, that is establishing Tshwane as Africa's digital city, dove-tails with the Hub vision of creating a community of creators of the future - located in the first science and technology park in South Africa that is being established according to international standards and response to local business needs.
Construction on the Hub site is expected to start in April 2003, while the smart facilities for smart businesses - ranging from small and medium companies to multinationals - will be rolled out towards the end of 2004.
Currently, the Hub's pilot site is provides a pre-incubation programme for Black Empowerment Enterprises (BEE), a high-tech business incubator and temporary multi-tenant facilities for small companies.
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